Sheerness Sure Start, Located in Sheerness, Kent : Services for Children under 5, their parents and families. learning, childcare, healthcare, child health child development, support, young children, special needs, family support, advice, information, community, play, counselling, benefits, Sure Start programme name, town, county, borough council, named Country Council microtec, websure, education, local, eydcp training, pre-school, nursery, health services, early learning, speech and language, speech therapy, regeneration, child poverty, local communities, work Primary Care Trust, DFES, drop in centre

Welcome to the Sheerness Children & Families Centre website

Our Centre brings together and delivers existing services within Sheerness covering childcare, health, family and support services in a supportive, understanding and positive environment. We work to the 'Every Child Matters' agenda. To read about the Every Child Matters agenda click here

To find our address and directions on how to get to us click here

Every month a newsletter is produced and distributed to all families living in Sheerness with a child not yet at school. The newsletter contains information & guidance, news on past or forthcoming events and an activities calendar. To view a newsletter click here

To view the 2005-2006 Annual Report 'In their own words' click here

To view our Policies click here

These are the organisations based at our centre:

Sure Start Sheerness

Offering a wide range of services to all expectant parents, pre-school children and their families in Sheerness. Working in partnership with parents, other local groups and agencies for the benefit of families and their children.

Staff cover a wide range of disciplines and include a Books Worker, Health Visitors, Nursery Nurse, Oral Health Promoter (the tooth fairy!), Family Care Worker, Community Outreach Worker, Speech & Language Technical Instructor, Qualified Teacher, Events & Publicity Organiser, Volunteer & Learning Co-ordinator, Home-Start Project Workers, Monitoring Assistant, Business Support Assistant, PALS Play and Learn Scheme and an Administrator!

The team based at Seashells, offers home visits and group activities.

Sheerness Neighbourhood Nursery

A 60 place Nursery offering high quality childcare in a caring and stimulating environment where children can develop their full potential, through well planned activities, while enjoying all the care and protection you would wish for them.

Open from 8am to 6pm for babies and pre-school children as well as breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and holiday playschemes.

The premises were designed and built with security very much in mind, both in the day rooms and outside in the enclosed garden and play area.

Staffed by a highly motivated and fully qualified team
Caring and stimulating environment
A range of creative, educational, imaginative, physical and environmental activities both in the playrooms and outside
Flexibility in the pattern of nursery attendance
Experienced kitchen staff who understand the importance of nutrition, food handling and hygiene and prepare appetizing meals for the children

Pre-arranged visits welcome.

Family Welfare Association - Sheppey Family Support Project

Funded by KCC Social Services, this project provides a variety of support to families with children up to 18 years on the Isle of Sheppey. By building on a family's existing strengths this project can support parents in achieving the outcomes they want for their children, growing up in supportive communities.

The association offers a range of groups at Seashells and the eastern end of the Sheppey as well as individual work at these locations or in the family home. FWA work alongside other organisations to ensure the families receive the best support in bringing up their children.

Family Welfare Association - Young Persons Project

The Young Persons Project is funded by East Kent Coastal Primary Care Trust. The service, still fairly new, will cover the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne.

The aim is to improve the mental health and emotional well being of children and young people of school age.

The Young Persons Project will also be providing consultation to families and professionals and a 'drop in' for young people to access directly.

The staff are a small team sharing the enthusiam of making a difference; looking foward to an exciting future which provides job satisfaction and a community with a valuable service.

East and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust

As well as funding the Young Persons project, the Primary Care Trust (PCT) are offering Midwifery services to families. The Health Visiting Team are also based in Sheerness Children & Families Centre and offer a number of home-visiting and support services.

Overall the centre works to stengthen families and the local community by enabling families to access:

Quality play, learning and childcare experiences for their children
Enhanced healthcare services, including advice about child health and development
Support for children with special needs, including access to specialist services
Family support delivered directly in the home
Advice and information, including counselling and benefits advice

An Advisory board has been established to oversee the programme and includes parents and staff representing Social Services, Health, Education, Swale Borough Council, and the voluntary sector.

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